This is the Good Work God Called You To Mama

Motherhood is demanding work. I’ve been on the motherhood journey for over twenty-five years now. With three adult children, two teens and one preteen, the needs are different than they were ten years ago, but they are still needs that demand effort on my part as a mom.

If I’m honest, there are some days when I’d like to pull up the covers over my head and let everyone just fend for themselves. As a matter of fact, today was one of those days. My two youngest boys did something last night that hurt someone’s feelings. They were “just being boys”, but if I let it slide, I would lose an opportunity to show them how their actions can hurt others whether they mean to or not. ​So, this morning, I had to address their hearts and take the time to teach them about the importance of putting others first. My schedule was tight. It would be so much easier just to let it go. 

However, this is the work God called me to do and I had to dig in and have a discussion with them. I’m so glad I did. By the end of our conversation, they realized that selfish attitudes lead to hurtful actions. My prayer is that next time they’ll remember to think about the feelings of others before making a move to put themselves first. ​​

​On days like today, I’m reminded of the words of the apostle Paul in 1 Corinthians 15:58,

“Therefore, my beloved brethren, be steadfast, immovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, knowing that your labor is not in vain in the Lord.” 

Raising little ones into big ones who love and follow Jesus is the greatest work we can do for the Lord. If God has given you children, He has called you into the work of motherhood. On the days you struggle with needs that seem unending, or demands of little ones are threatening to overwhelm you, and you feel your work is in vain, consider this: Your children won't always need you as they do now.

Your children will not always need you like they do now.

​They won’t always need you:
to change them, 
to bathe them, 
to feed them, 
or to sing them a lullaby.

They won’t always need you:
to tie their shoes, 
to fix their toy, 
to put a band-aid on their knee, 
or to pack their lunch.
 
They won’t always need you:
to drive them to practice, 
to drop them off at a friend’s house, 
to take them through a drive-thru after school, 
or to see you sitting in the stands. 

They won’t always need you:
to wait up till they come home, 
to borrow your car, 
to pick up supplies for a science project, 
or to rearrange your schedule around theirs. ​

Your children will not always need you like this, but they will always need you. ​

They will need you:
to pray for them, 
to listen to them, 
to be the example of faith (not perfect, but progressing), 
and to love them no matter what. 

Focusing on these needs is what will help us remain steadfast, immovable, and abounding in the work God has called us to do in motherhood. The great thing about this is that we can start meeting these needs no matter the age of our children. ​

Pray

Pray for your little ones to be drawn to the things of the Lord. As you feed them today, or as you prepare a meal for them, pray God will cause them to hunger and thirst for His Word. Pray they will “taste and see that the Lord is good.” 

Listen

Listen to what your children say. Take some time in the morning, afternoon, and evening to stop whatever you are doing, look into their faces and really listen to what they have to say. Let them see you listening. Repeat back to them what you hear them saying to you. When your children know you hear them, you will begin to build an atmosphere of trust and transparency that will serve your relationship well for the rest of your lives. ​

Be the Example

Be the example of faith by making time with the Lord a daily delight for yourself. I know how hard it is to carve out quiet time when you have little ones, but if you start now, you will never regret it. God will somehow multiply the time in your days. 

I’ve seen Him do it over and over again in my own life. As your children grow, let them see your walk with the Lord progressing. Share with them when you mess up and need to go to the Lord for forgiveness and direction. Draw them into time in the Word with you. They do not need to see perfection. They need to see a faith walk that is progressing. ​​

Love

Love them no matter what. Our children are not going to be perfect, no matter how hard we work in training them. So, when they do mess up (as my boys did recently), take the time to extend grace and mercy in the midst of your training. Always show them you love them more than the things they may break, or the time they may be taking from your schedule. Love covers a multitude of sins. Keep in mind that the love you show your children is what will remain with them forever. ​

Take heart, my friend, your children won’t always need you like they do today. But, you will always be their mom and they will always need you. Your work as a mom is never in vain. 

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Shepherding a Child's Heart is about how to speak to the heart of your child. The things your child does and says flow from the heart. Luke 6:45 puts it this way: "...out of the overflow of the heart the mouth speaks." Written for parents with children of any age, this insightful book provides perspectives and procedures for shepherding your child's heart into the paths of life. Shepherding a Child's Heart gives fresh biblical approaches to child rearing.

You can also purchase the Shepherding a Child's Heart: Parent's Handbook here. ​The Parent's Handbook is not just a fill-in-the-blank study guide that rehearses the material in Shepherding a Child's Heart. In the ten years since the publication of Shepherding, Tedd Tripp has had the opportunity to teach on parenting to thousands of young parents across the country and in many other parts of the world. That, coupled with ten years of insights into God's Word on the subject, has resulted in a broader and deeper understanding of the content and application of Shepherding a Child's Heart. Here are questions about the meaning and application of Scripture texts to the challenges of shepherding children.

There are sections of Bible study, application, strategic questions to help parents commit to change, and gospel encouragement that you can be a better parent because of the power of grace working in you. The Parent's Handbook is a valuable tool for personal or group study.

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What stage of child rearing are you in and what resources have you found valuable?